Improved refrigerator



J. C. SCHOOLEY. y

l Refrigerator.

' Patented Jan. 6, 18613.

Wa? we e6 Y @tra Vrraras JOHN C. SOHOOLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPaovED aEFmGEaAToa.

' refrigerator. Fig4 2 is the movable partition that fits inside the refrigerator7 and made to move to and fro, as may be desired.

In all ventilated refrigerators the partition between the ice and provision chambers is made permanent, thus permanently dividing the ice-chamber from the provision chamber. In all small refrigerators having a permanent .or iizred` partition the ice-chamber is necessarily too small to contain the daily quantity of ice, as sa-id daily quantity is greater or less, according to the weather. Then,aga1n, in the larger-sized refrigerators, the partition being made permanent, the ice-chamber is often too large, and contains too much air when the ice has melted and been reduced to a very small quantity. When the daily quantity of ice is iirst placed in a refrigerator with a fixed partition, the ice-chamber is required to be larger than at any other time, and during the latter part of the day, when the ice is reduced to a very small quantity, if the size of the ice-cham ber is not reduced it is evident a great deal of unnecessary room is Atalren from the capacity of the preserving-chamber, and the ice-chamber contains too great an amount of air encircling the small quantity of ice, thus melting the ice very fast. i

The first object of my invention is to economize in the use of ice by being able to decrease the size of either 'the iceechamber or the provision-chamber, as may be desired, or as the quantity of ice or provisions therein contained may demand. Thus, by moving the partition nearer the end of the refrigerator where the ice is placed, the amount of air surrounding or coming in contact continually with the ice is reduced in proportion to the decreased bulk of the ice as it melts, whereas in a refrigerator Where the partition is fixed the ice-chamber remains of the same capacity, and the same amount of air, containing the same amount of heat, is allowed to surround and come in contact with the ice in theice-chamber, nomatter l how small the bulk of the ice may be. Consequent] y more heat comes in contact with the reduced bulk of ice in a given time than could possibly come in contact with the same quantity of ice contained in my compressed icechamber; or, in other words, when the ice contained in a refrigerator with a fixed partition is decreasing in quantity, the amount of heat surrounding it is not decreased, while in a refrigerator with a movable partition, when said partition is moved to lessen the sizc of the ice-chamber as the ice decreases in bulk, the amount of heat comingin contact with the ice is decreased in proportion to the decreased bulk ofthe ice.

The second object of my invention is to en'- able all persons'who are using the old-style box-refrigerator or ice-chest to have it converted into a ventilatin g refrigerator, and at a very small cost, without having their refrigerator removed from the place where it is used.l Y y This is a great advantage, for it is well known .l

th at thousands of families are using the oldstyle refrigerator, having but one apartment.

Without ventilation, and cannot afford to either purchase a new one or to do without the use of the old one while it may be taken to a factory and altered. I can insert my new movablepartition into one of these old-style refrigerators without havingrit removed from its place, and instantly convert it into a ventilating refrigerator, ventilated by a rotation of air revolving around the partition, operating similar to the refrigerator patented by Thaddeus Fairbanks and assigned to John G. Schooley, August 12, 1856. lf desirable to ventiflate by using the outside air, as described in a patent granted to John C. Schooley for the A pro cesses of curing meat,77 March 13, 18515, I insert my movable partition, as before, and make two openings, e and d, covered with registers r and s, in the front of the refrigerator, Said registers are made to open and close the openings e and d as represented in Fig. l.

The third object of my invention is to enable those who use my improved refrigerator to convert it into a refrigerator with one apartment only, and without ventilation, which may be often desirable. In order to accomplish this, the registers at e and d are closed and the partition removed from the refrigerator, which is done almost in an instant. Thus my improved refrigerator has great advantage over all others, being, as it were, three refrigerators in one, because the users can convert it info either of the following kind of refrigerators at will, viz: First, a refrigerator ventilated by admitting outside air, thus having a circulation entirely through the refrigerator 5 second, a refrigerator ventilated'by using the inside air, having it to rotate around the partition; third, a refrigerator that can be instantly converted into an old-style refrigerator having but one apartment.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation by referring to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

Fig. l represents a vertical sectional view of my refrigerator. A is the ice-chamber; B, the preserving-chamber. C is the movable partition when placed in the refrigerator, which is made to tit close to the inside of the refrigerator and intended to be moved to and fro, as the case demands. d and e are the outlet and inlet openings. r and s are registers made to close and open the openings d and e. q is the opening at the bottom ofthe partition for the passage of cold air from the ice to the preserving-chamber. f is the opening at the top of the partition for the passage of air from the preserving-chamber onto the ice.

Fig. 2 represents the movable partition befo re'it is placed in the refrigerator. This partitionis made of Wood covered with sheet metal,

1 or of any other proper material. When the will flow through opening f into ice-chamber A, as directed by the darts, then, after becoming cold and dry, by coming in contact with the ice and depositing its moisture thereon, will iiow through opening g into preservingchamber B, and as it becomes again warmer by flowing over the provisionsl it will ascend and flow again through openingf intoice-chamber A, and so will rotate over and over the ice without the use of the outside air.

m m in Fig. l are the shelf-seats in the refrigerator supporting the shelves. n n n n in Fig. 2 are grooves made in the partition. to t the shape of the shelf-seats, and on which the partition can be made to slide to and fro. h is the outlet for the meltings and the cesspool usually attached to refrigerators.

In constructin g my improved refrigerator it is my intention to have an ice-rack made to t lie over the entire floor of the refrigerator, which will prevent the ice in the ice-chamber from lying in its own meltings, and. also keep the bottom of the preserving-chamber dry.

I am aware that refrigerators have been constructed having but one apartment 5 also am aware that refrigerators have been ventilated in the manner as described in this specication; but I am not aware that a refrigerator has ever been constructed with a movable or sliding partition dividing the ice from the preserving-chamber. I therefore disclaim the constructing of a refrigerator having but one apartment; also disclaim both modes of ventilation as described in this specification.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The movable partition C, when used in combination with a refrigerator, and so arranged that the partition can be moved to and fro, substantially as and for the purposes as set forth.

JOHN C. SCHOOLEY.

Witnesses:

J. R. WALLS, R. B. CHURCH. 

